Although he doesn’t remember the incident, Timothy Lin ’03 has been told by his parents that he wanted to quit piano lessons when he was younger. He began playing piano when he was five years old and continued throughout high school. Except for the year his family moved from Hong Kong, China, to Tinley Park, Ill., Lin has studied with a piano instructor consistently for about 16 years.
Lin has studied with Eugene Gaub, Music, since he arrived on campus in 2000. When Gaub took a sabbatical in Italy last spring, Lin opted to take voice lessons with Marvin Kelley, Music, and play piano on his own.
Among Lin’s musical accomplishments at Grinnell are: a Hill Award for Outstanding Instrumentalist; second place in the Des Moines Symphony Concerto Competition; winner of the Grinnell Concerto Competition; being member of the piano trio Calliope that performed his first and second years; and numerous solo and duo concerts. Some of the repertoire Lin has performed with others has been arranged or written by Lin himself.
Composing was not new to Lin when he arrived at Grinnell. His senior year of high school, Lin wrote the musical score, script and lyrics to a musical based on The Scarlet Letter.
“I thought that I could write a better musical than some of the ones we had performed,” said Lin. As for time commitment and reimbursement, “[I spent] hundreds of hours on it. . . [It was] purely voluntary.”
Although music, both performing and composing, has proved significant in Lin’s life, he never considered majoring in music in college or even pursuing a career as a musician. “I don’t think I have the motivation or interest to practice for extended periods of time,” said Lin. “I just want to make music.”
Making music does not, for Lin, involve taking music courses at Grinnell. “Although I think the theory is important,” said Lin, “I think too much theory dampens creativity.” Lin has discovered avenues to intertwine music with other aspects of his life, such as his faith. Lin has discovered in Grinnell not only numerous opportunities to excel in music, but also a Christian community that he values and that has changed him.
“GCCF [Grinnell College Christian Fellowship] has had a very big influence on my life here, not only spiritually but socially, emotionally,” said Lin. He has been a Student Leader for two years, which for Lin has meant leading musical worship, leading Bible studies, and performing administrative tasks.
Instead of leaving after graduation, Lin will spend next year working with GCCF; he believes that one day he may go to divinity school.
“In some ways I think [a pastoral role] is what God is calling me to do with my life,” said Lin. “Because GCCF has been such a part of my Grinnell career I am staying here next year to work with the group. It will give me a chance to get some real life experience.”
—Aly Beery